Rhema Bible Training College

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Training for a dream

I received my class schedule and ID badge. Classes start on Monday!

Pastor Hagin spoke to us via video on passing the baton. He encouraged us to dream big and really use our time at Rhema to prepare for that dream. 

The excitement has been building all week, so now I just can’t wait to get into my classes. 

I walked away from orientation more determined than ever to spend time dreaming and writing out goals. 

I also walked away with a strong desire to be an encouragement to my fellow classmates by offering my prayers and my support concerning their dreams. 

We’re all in the same family, right? 

It’s important to encourage each other in our dreams because those dreams spread the gospel and advance the Kingdom of God. 

Let the training begin!

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Focus is key

Ms. Lynette Hagin talked with us today about focus. (Well, we listened to her message via video, but it seemed like she was in the room.)

All Rhema students in the US and Canada must move to Tulsa, which is a big move to make. 

What is our intention in doing so?

To study the Bible, to focus our attention on the various areas of ministry God is leading us to pursue for His name and His glory. 

There’s that word again: focus.

The level of intentionality and proximity to Spirit filled teaching and training promoted here at Rhema requires a great deal of focus. 

As Ms. Lynette said in her message, “The annointing is more caught than taught.”

You can’t catch anything if you’re not paying attention. 

I’m going to spend the rest of this week writing out my list of focus areas. (I wrote out goals before I moved, but it can’t hurt to do it again.)

When classes start on Monday, I will have my catcher’s mit on!

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Learning to Trust

God is good. 

He takes care of me and He’s the only reason I am able to come to Rhema right now. 

My bank’s entire computer system was down….

I needed to pay my tuition, which involved working with the bank to raise the limit on my debit card.

So, I prayed. My friend Marci prayed with me as well. 

Lord, I want to get my registration done today. Please get this cleared up for me. 

Then I called the bank and my favorite teller moved me to the top of her priority list. 

Then I stood in line outside the admissions office and waited my turn. 

The registrar was very gracious and understanding. She told me to come back in the morning. As I walked out the door, my phone rang. 

The computer system was back up and I was able to register. 

I’m pretty sure God was laughing at me in that moment. 

Trust me, Audra. I told you it would be okay. 

All I can say is this:

The most important thing you will ever learn in life is to trust God. If He says it, He’ll do it. 

This whole journey to Rhema has done nothing but build up my faith and trust. 

The key to resting in the promises, to limitless faith is trust. 

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Ready for anything

  Registration for Rhema is tomorrow!

I’ll pick up my textbooks and parking decal and then I’ll be set. 

Orientation is Wednesday through Friday. Not sure what all that entails, but I’m ready for whatever. 

Been a while since I was a college student…

Well, maybe not that long. 

I know for a fact that my experience at Rhema will be nothing like my time at Judson. 

My lunch is packed, my clothes are picked out, and all of my paperwork is together. 

I’ve been waiting for this moment for over 4 months and I still have no idea what to expect or what to feel. 

So, I’ve decided to just be excited and enjoy the ride. 

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A training culture 

Moving to a new place definitely changes your perspective. 

I visited Tulsa back in October, but it wasn’t my city yet. I was merely a visitor. 

Now I’m a resident and there’s an increased eagerness to really pay attention to stores and directions and the culture. 

I think the same can be said of any new adventure in life. 

Eagerness and curiosity will help you learn more because both are great motivators.

Great things are happening here. I’m excited to see how I can contribute. 

There’s so much to learn, so much to do and I really want to soak it all up. Many have told me that the lessons learned at Rhema are more caught than taught. 

The school wants you to learn, yes, but more importantly they want you to put into practice what you’re learning. 

I can’t wait for classes to start! January 19th can’t come fast enough. 

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3 days and counting 

My posts will probably be short this week. 

I spent today packing for my move and visiting with friends. 

My car is ready for pick up in the morning, so I’m all set for my Friday morning departure date. 

Things are falling into place…

I still need to find a bank and a car insurance company, but those things won’t be hard to do once I arrive in Tulsa. 

It’s hard to believe that I’m leaving Alabama for a second time….

The adventure of following God will take you places that are beyond your wildest dreams. 

I’m entering 2016 by accomplishing something that’s been on my heart for about 5 years: going to Rhema!

Never underestimate what you can do with help from the Lord. He will order your steps. 

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God’s simple answers

  Great news! I am very close to having Rhema paid for this year.

This is all because of God’s faithfulness. 

Several months ago, God spoke to me in a time of prayer about paying attention to the opportunities right in front of my face. 

The wisdom of God is awesome. A lot of it is quite simple too. 

There was no angelic voice or writing in the sky. 

Pay attention. 

Look around. 

That’s all I heard and all I needed. 

Maybe it’s all you need too. 

I encourage you to see the hand and wisdom of God in the simple things. 

Don’t get flustered if it’s not shown in a grand gesture. The still, small voice is the primary way we are led by God. 

I am convinced now that the reason we miss God sometimes is because He didn’t use a megaphone. 

We wanted something cool like the story that one guy or gal told at church that one Sunday night. 

Why can’t you talk to me like that, God? 

We whine and our pitiful cries drown out His instruction.

Pray. 

Be quiet. 

Listen. 

Obey. 

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Friday Updates

  Today’s post will be more of an update. 

  1. I’ve picked up some extra work to save up for Rhema. Dad and Nana are showing me the ropes of the medical courier route. I’ll be picking up for my dad while he’s in Mexico. Also, I’llbe helping out Nana too. 
  2. My dad and I are working on a new project together. It’s going to be a short video series where we talk about our journey of being reconciled to each other. 
  3. I want us to to walk our way through a Christmas carol this December. We’ll look at history and origin, it’s telling of the Christmas story, and I’ll put up videos of different musicians singing it. 
  4. I’ve found a couple of great restaraunts in Birmingham this week. An African restaurant named Rafiki’s Grill and a Pho restaurant named Pho Que Huong. I highly recommend both!

Well, that’s all I have for today…

Please leave me a comment on which song we should discuss. 

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Crash landing

I just crash landed back into reality. 

The weekend was amazing and there’s much to do now that I’ve scouted the land, so to speak. 

Reality is mean isn’t it?

I barely walked in the door before my mind was filled with the many things that need to happen in the coming week.

This is the trickiest part of any transition. 

There’s so much to do to prepare for what’s ahead and yet you want to and need to finish well where you are. 

The emotions of crash landing hit me hard.  

Excitement and sadness mingle together, along with a dose of calendar reality. 

Life goes on. Time ticks away. And I can’t help but wish everyone and everything would slow down for a minute. 

Honestly, I have a difficult time with the messy middle of transitions. 

God is so faithful, though, to walk along beside me and to encourage me to keep going, to press in. 

Yes, the future is bright. Yes, there’s a lot to do. 

I am choosing, however, to look ahead while soaking in the goodness of my present. 

I am not leaving here in a hurry.

 I will cherish the time and all the reasons I have to be thankful. 

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Faith adventures are the best

Provision follows commitment. 

I am a firm and faithful believer in this truth after this weekend. 

  God has answered my prayers about many of the key aspects of my move to Tulsa in January. 

It’s been so cool to see how His hand and influence has guided me-in many unexpected ways-to the answers I needed. 

There’s so much more that I want to say, but I want to use today’s post as a way of saying thanks to God. 

Living by faith is a great adventure. 

I want to leave you with three recommendations:

  1. Be as specific as you can be in your prayers. 
  2. Ask others to stand in faith–meaning they pray in agreement–with you. 
  3. Don’t be unwilling to share what you’re believing for when it comes up in conversation. Who knows if the person(s) you’re chatting with could be the answer to your prayers?

College Weekend gave me a small taste of what is to come. 

I can’t wait to see how this faith adventure unfolds!